"I can't wait to go and see it," Peter said, making a few punching motions in the air.
Silas pointed at the calendar hanging on the door. "There's still plenty of time. This is just an advance announcement."
"I hope Hammer Industries doesn't mess this up like Osborn Group did." Peter had heard a bit about the Osborn Group incident, especially the news that their CEO, Norman, had gone missing recently. His son, Harry, was underage, so the second largest shareholder was acting as a proxy until Harry came of age and could take over the Osborn Group.
Silas thought to himself: Don't worry, Peter, this time it's definitely going to be messed up, and the site will turn into a chaotic mess.
"Let's not talk about that for now. Did Stark give you the payment?" Silas asked.
Peter's excited mood suddenly dropped. "Not yet..."
"Don't be discouraged. Stark isn't short on that kind of money. He probably just forgot because he's busy," Silas said.
"Peter! A gentleman is here to see you!" Aunt May's shout came from downstairs.
Silas smiled. "See? He's probably here."
"It can't be such a coincidence, can it?!" Peter said, incredulously.
With that, Peter opened the door and rushed downstairs. Silas didn't bother to look, lying alone on his chair, putting on an eye mask to sleep.
A Shadowkhan immediately appeared and tucked a blanket around Silas.
Downstairs
"Peter Parker?" Happy asked, standing at the door.
Peter saw it was Happy, the driver. Mr. Stark didn't come? Honestly, he felt a little disappointed. Stark's status was completely different from Happy's. If Stark had personally called, the impact would have been completely different.
"Hello, Peter. I'm Stark's bodyguard and driver," Happy said, extending his hand. Honestly, he never expected Spider-Man to be such a young man.
"Peter, don't stand at the door, let the gentleman in," Aunt May called from the sofa.
Peter quickly said, "Please come in! Please come in!"
"Hello, I'm Peter's aunt, May Parker," Aunt May introduced herself.
The moment Happy saw Aunt May, his eyes lit up. "Hello, I'm Happy Hogan, Tony Stark's bodyguard and driver."
Aunt May was in her mid-thirties, still in her prime, while Ben Parker was forty-one. However, Ben Parker looked older due to taking care of the family.
"Wait! Tony Stark? Stark Industries..." Aunt May didn't finish her sentence.
Happy nodded. "Yes, ma'am."
"Oh my gosh~" Aunt May covered her mouth in surprise. She couldn't imagine why Happy would come looking for her nephew, Peter Parker. Had Peter gotten into trouble? And what kind of trouble would warrant a visit from Happy?
"This is why, take a look at this video." Happy took a tablet out of his briefcase, placed it on the coffee table in front of the sofa, and pressed play.
"Hello~ Peter Parker." Tony Stark appeared on the screen. This was a video he had recorded. "You are a young man with a strong sense of justice, and I admire you. Thank you for your work last night. This twenty thousand dollars is your payment. I think highly of you."
The video was very short. The origin of the twenty thousand dollars wasn't explained in detail, but it clearly told them, "Yes! I, Tony Stark, gave you this twenty thousand dollars!" Tony Stark's name was the best explanation. They all believed that such a rich and influential figure would simply give the money as pocket change to Peter.
"Here is the twenty thousand US dollars. Please take it," Happy said, taking out a stack of cash and handing it to Peter.
Peter happily reached out and took the money. "Thank you."
"You earned it," Happy said, standing up. "In that case, I'll be heading back." Happy adjusted his tie and walked away with his briefcase.
"Wait! You didn't take this with you!" Peter was about to pick up the tablet on the table and called out.
Happy turned back with a smile. "A gift from Mr. Stark."
"Thank you," Peter didn't refuse. After all, this was nothing to Stark.
Click! Happy closed the door and left.
"Oh my God, Peter. What exactly did you do for Stark to give you twenty thousand US dollars?" Aunt May was astonished. Twenty thousand was a huge amount for their family. It could help Ben buy a new car and improve their financial situation.
"It was a... research report! I just tried sending it to Mr. Stark, and he took one look and loved it, rewarding me with this twenty thousand dollars." Peter immediately came up with an explanation. Aunt May wouldn't understand the details, and this was just a white lie.
"A research report?" Aunt May didn't understand how a research report could earn Peter twenty thousand. "It's a shame Ben is at work..." Aunt May said, imagining how excited Ben would be if he were here.
Peter looked at the twenty thousand in his hand and immediately placed it in front of Aunt May. "Aunt May, this twenty thousand is for you. Please use it to help Uncle Ben get a new car."
"No, Peter, this is your money." Although Aunt May really wanted to use the money for a new car, the money was ultimately Peter's. Just because he didn't need it now didn't mean he wouldn't need it later.
Peter shook his head, holding up the tablet. "I just need this! I'm going upstairs now, Aunt May!" He couldn't wait to tell Silas.
Peter's gesture let Aunt May know that she hadn't raised Silas and Peter in vain. They had grown up to be thoughtful and mature.
Upstairs
"Coming up?" Silas heard the commotion and pulled down his eye mask. He knew without a doubt that Peter would come upstairs to share the news.
Sure enough, Peter opened the door and exclaimed excitedly, "Silas, Mr. Stark gave me the twenty thousand!"
"I know~" Silas wasn't very excited. He had a whole stash of untouched money in the Shadow Realm. However, he was a little envious of Peter; the source of his money was fully explained by Stark, while his own money had a shady origin, and he couldn't think of a good reason to tell Uncle Ben about it.
"Why aren't you excited at all, Silas?" Peter thought Silas should be jumping for joy.
Silas replied, "I'm very excited, okay?"
"You're being so dismissive," Peter said, jumping onto Silas's bed.
"Hey, that's my bed," Silas said, exasperated.
Peter lay there shamelessly. "You weren't sleeping in it anyway. Besides, when we were little, we used to sleep in the same bed."
"No, I was on the top bunk, and you were on the bottom bunk," Silas countered. When they were in elementary school, Peter was afraid of falling, so Silas reluctantly took the top bunk.
"I mean, when we were really little," Peter clarified.
"No, I refuse," Silas, as a reincarnator, wouldn't allow a little kid to sleep next to him.
"Are you refusing your own brother?"
"No, I'm refusing you."
"Oh~ Silas, you disappoint me."
"Maybe we should go out and fight crime together. That could help us be more in sync."
"By the way, Silas, have you thought of a team name?"
"I think Spider-Brothers is a great name."
Silas stared blankly at the ceiling. Why was Peter talking so much now? He wasn't like this before!
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